# StickyStudy Japanese — user reviews > 51 indexed App Store user reviews of StickyStudy Japanese by Justin Nightingale, rated 4.60/5 from 70 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stickystudy-japanese/id385898687/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stickystudy-japanese/id385898687.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 58 · 4★ 5 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 4 ## Newest reviews (13 of 51) ### 5/5 — The one Kanji/Kana trainer to buy *2018-04-01, version 4.16* Excellent content, with definitions, examples, similar Kanji to watch out for, and even writing practice. Lots of pre-made decks divided by JLPT levels, school years, etc. SRS lets you focus on want you need to learn, and not waste time repeating what you've already mastered. Instead of filling an idle 5-10 minutes staring at drivel on Facebook, why not pop open StickyStudy and spend a few minutes getting more of those sweet green cards? ### 5/5 — Killer features and great developer *2018-02-02, version 4.14* I’ve tried at least a dozen apps to complement my formal and informal Japanese studies, and this stands out for its efficiency at studying both how to read and how to write. The writing practice and stroke order visualization in particular really demonstrate a lot of craftsmanship. This and Quizlet win home screen slots for me. The developer, Justin, is also great. He responds to suggestions, continuously improves the app (that I gather he still uses himself), and is really responsive if you encounter a bug. I pointed out a glitch in recent update and a fix was on the store in a day! ### 5/5 — Best app for kanji learning on phone *2018-01-20, version 4.12* This app will take you from no kanji to however far you are willing to go. I love that I can import my own lists, drill components and browse cards quickly by stack and list type. In my case, am relaying on stories to remember the kanji (Heisig RTK). The components drill downs help me tie it all out. And import allows you to bring your stories if you have them already (I took an Anki deck with stories, exported it and imported the kanji and stories into this app). Also love that I can have a screen full of Flashcards (makes them more tangible). For Kanji learning on phone this is the best app I’ve found. ### 5/5 — One of the best built Japanese apps *2018-01-10, version 4.12* I’ve been studying for 5 years and this is still the app I go back to for vocabulary and kanji practice. I have studied from N5 all the way to N2 and has been the sole reason I have the vocabulary set I do now. Very intuitive and easy to use, a must get for Japanese learning! ### 5/5 — Very well thought out app *2018-01-06, version 4.12* I’ve been through a ton of Japanese learning apps and books to find one that keeps my relatively short attention span focused on the task. This is definitely one of the most thorough ones out there. The SRS review allows you to branch out by radicals and compounds and add new word/kanji/sentences to any deck on the fly. It syncs between devices! Tons more. Very happy with this, especially as I loathe textbooks. Pro tip: find a kanji game app (I use Kanji for Fun - no affiliation) that also separates kanji by level, so you can study the same kanji in a different, slightly less dry environment. ### 5/5 — Great tool *2018-01-04, version 4.12* Lots of good flash card sets ### 5/5 — Constantly Improving *2017-11-01, version 4.11* I've used this app since it originally launched and I'm here to tell you that it is an essential tool for slashing your way through Japanese. I used StickyStudy to help get me through studying for the JLPT N4 through N1. I couldn't have succeeded without the awesome kanji lists and ability to add your own words from the built-in dictionary. If you're a beginner, the developer is now throwing in hiragana and katakana decks as bonuses when they used to be a separate app! It's simple and gets the job done really well. The developer is really responsive too, which makes the app even better because you know someone will listen if you have feedback. ### 5/5 — thanks *2017-10-30, version 4.1* after buyng full app - no sound. upd. after reinstalling and reading docs - i found it. thanks. good app. best at ipad with pencil. **Developer response:** The full app IAP seems to be working OK. Drop me an email and let me know more: support@stickystudy.com ### 5/5 — Best SRS App in the Store *2017-08-06, version 4.02* Even aside from the language (Japanese)-specific content in this and the separate Kana companion, as an SRS/flashcard app, this has excellent design and ease of use. At this point, I have used a lot of these, both for learning kanji and other things, and as far as I'm aware, this is easily the best one currently sold in the iTunes store for learning kanji, and the general, enter-your-own-cards version ("Flash") by the same developer has all the same strengths. ### 5/5 — Excellent learning tool *2016-12-20, version 3.73* I recently started using StickyStudy to help in memorizing the vocabulary in my Japanese class, and find it very useful. The built-in dictionary makes it easy to create a set of flash cards for the new vocabulary of a lesson. The quiz part then helps focus on the difficult words by keeping track of what has and hasn’t been learned. I saw the results of using this app almost immediately in the results of our kanji tests, and hope it will also help improve my long-term retention. At $10, a bargain compared to the cost of Japanese classes! ### 5/5 — An absolutely wonderful method. *2015-09-29, version 3.52* This is *easily* the best system for studying kanji that I've tried. Sure wish I'd had this app when I took Japanese in college! It would have been a much better method for studying kanji than anything I tried. I've had the app for a long time now, and it has had quite a few updates in that time, and has performed flawlessly after every one. I am particularly pleased with the method for practicing writing the kanji. The dictionary is great, the study method unexcelled, the developer writes back if you have a suggestion; I can't recommend this app enough. Well worth the purchase price! ### 5/5 — One of the best Japanese Kanji learning apps *2015-06-09, version 3.51* For $9.99, you get thousands of Japanese/Chinese symbols, an extremely intuitive dictionary, examples for each character, every single onyomi and every single kunyomi, a native speaker, a writing guide for each kanji, and every single decl you could possibly need, plus the ability to create your own. The spaced repetition system (SRS) spaces out the kanji you know from the ones you don't. Definitely worth the $10 I paid for it. ### 5/5 — Amazing App! *2015-06-03, version 3.5* I’ve been using this app for the past two years to study for the N3 and N2 JLPT exam. I have no doubt that a lot of the credit for my passing those exams goes to this app, and I’m continuing to use it for the N1. There are LOADS of really valuable options in settings which let you choose to reveal the answers in stages, hear audio, trace the kanji (with and without shadowed guides). In fact, there are so many options, that I’ve had to be bailed out by the creator of the app a couple of times – and in both cases he responded immediately. I lived in Japan in the pre-digital days of the late 1980s and early 1990s when looking up a kanji required counting strokes and leafing through a kanwa dictionary. This app represents pretty much the polar opposite of that laborious process. If there was an option for more than 5 stars I’d select it. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Decks Disappear *2018-10-22, version 4.18* Second time this has happened to me. After getting through 3 decks, I click the folder to browse for what I want to use next and the decks that were originally there (all of them) are now gone. No way to view them again and the app once again becomes worthless. Trash App. Do not buy. **Developer response:** There's a 15 minute rolling backup in your iCloud folder so your decks are safe but without any other information it's difficult to know what happened. Drop me an email and let me me know some more details (device, OS, etc) so I can look into it: support@stickystudy.com ### 1/5 — No Dictionary *2017-10-23, version 4.1* In spite of the App description (SRS Study + Full Dictionary), the Dictionary is NOT included. Sneaky bait and switch developer... ### 2/5 — Bad app to choose if you want to sync *2020-09-05, version 4.50* Can’t get the app to sync between my iPad and iPhone, and lost over a week of progress. Can’t seem to delete the files to start from the beginning. The app is not useful to me; I think I’ll try Anki. ### 3/5 — Good but some mistakes *2020-03-27, version 4.45* I’ve had the app for half an hour and I’ve found a few mistakes already. Eg the reading for 缶 and 空間. Is there some way to report these? **Developer response:** Always good to talk to the developer with app questions. 空間 has 2 readings, both are shown in the dictionary. 缶 has 3, also shown. ### 3/5 — Great value, but some problems. *2015-06-19, version 3.51* For about $10, this app is a really great value. It would take me forever to make all the flashcards that are contained within the app. However, some of the Flashcards have mistakes. Definitions of words are incorrect or missing. I don't notice this often, but of course I only notice it with words I already know, or words that have English translations that differ greatly from the translation in the example sentence. If I don't bother to read the example, or I really just don't know the word, I would have no idea. I also dislike the way the kanji are presented in general. The kanji decks are "animated" to show the stroke order. I went through the settings, but I couldn't turn the stroke order off. The vocabulary cards don't have this problem. ### 3/5 — Fantastic app but... *2013-03-15, version 2.7* This is probably the best way to learn kanji if you're really serious about it. With its help I've learned nearly 600 new kanji in about a month, since I'm trying to become fluent in Japanese. However, I think there are some improvements that can and SHOULD be made. First of all, whenever I download an updated version, it erases all my prior data. So all the sections go back to zero and I have to start all over again. Secondly, when I start a new section, there are usually kanji I already know. It would be nice if I could just select those and move them to the "mastered" (green) section so I wouldn't have to waste my time with them and be able to see how many kanji I have yet to learn, without counting the ones I already know. Lastly, this app should be able to sync between devices. I like to study on both my iPhone and iPad. Say I use my iPhone and master 300 cards in the N5 vocabulary. If I want to switch to my iPad, the cards are at zero, since the app doesn't sync between devices. This is frustrating for me since it slows down the learning process and should be a relatively easy thing to improve on. If the developer could implement these suggestions then this app would be the greatest out there. ### 3/5 — Bad for older devices (i.e. 2nd gen. iTouch) *2012-06-18, version 2.43* It's a wonderful app but it crashes 9/10 times. I literally can't use it for more than 5 seconds before it closes. I have a 2nd generation iTouch so it may just be age that makes the app incompatible with me. I know that a three is a pretty low rating, but this was my experience. For older devices, look elsewhere. To be honest the kotoba dictionary is just as useful and it's free. It's full of information and examples (translations are provided in several languages as well). Also it doesn't crash as much. The only thing you can't do with the app is use flash cards. ### 3/5 — Inaccurate *2011-06-03, version 1.86* Went through the two lowest vocab levels and there were enough inaccuracies to have me checking a dictionary too often for my liking. Quite a few words with not all of the readings listed (ex. Only "jin" is listed for the counter 人). Words with multiple definitions also have their definitions split into multiple entries. Although there are a ton of example sentences, they're useless a lot of the time and include entries for different definitions of the same word or words that use the same kanji as the one you're looking at. Beautiful design but inaccurate entries. ### 4/5 — Excellent *2015-10-18, version 3.55* I really really like this app and am using it to prepare for the JLPT. The fact that it is designed to help you learn a set of vocabulary by a certain date makes it perfect for this. It's generally pleasing and fun to use. I'd like to see an option to add some more steps to the SRS algorithm and an option to show vocabulary along with a kanji on "side 1". But a fantastic studying tool and I'm extremely pleased with it. ### 4/5 — Really Good *2015-07-21, version 3.52* Great app, especially for me. There's a lot of content! My own Japanese skills are close to non-existent. It's awesome that I'm learning new vocab/kanji every time I open this app. I have noticed small errors like in the example sentences. So, I take those with a pinch of salt. I wish I could customize these flashcards though. I wanted to personalize them and add mnemonics since they really help me remember. I do add them to the 'Answer' section, but it makes the definition bulky and hard to read, especially if it's a long one. An option to add mnemonics would be great! Another problem (?) I had with the app was the sound. I have the Auto Play turned on, but there is no sound when I study the decks. There are some sound clips for words I look up in the Dictionary though. I was under the impression there is sound for each flashcard, but that's not the case. I guess I misunderstood. It would be difficult to record all the readings. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Impressive *2024-01-03* I’ve been interested in understanding the characters behind the heart sutra and have printed out paper versions of how to draw each word. This app is allowing me to go much further and not only quickly learn the characters I am interested in but also exposing me to an entire universe of language. Thank you for your work building this tool. ### 5/5 — Love love love it *2022-03-08, version 4.58* I have tried many apps for JLPT study and this is hands down the best app. The only thing I would add is vocal recordings for every single vocab word but otherwise it’s perfect for studying as WELL as goal setting. You can set a date that you want a certain deck memorized by and it will give you a certain amount of items to review for each day so if you keep up with it, then you will reach your goal by the date you set. Love it :) ### 5/5 — Really, really, really love this. *2021-08-12, version 4.58* This is a prime example of why people who are learning languages should also be the ones who develop apps and programs to learn said languages! Highly recommend for anyone studying Japanese. I particularly like how now next time I need to look up a word, I can also have a mini study session and practice it. I’m also looking forward to trying out the newsfeed feature so I can practice reading more! ### 5/5 — Love this app! *2019-11-20, version 4.39* I’ve been studying Japanese for over 30 years. When I first started, we had to create our own flip cards and run through them - very analog approach. This app is intuitive, shows you the brushstrokes, common uses of the word, everything, in an engaging package. Highly recommend. ### 5/5 — Best Kanji app *2018-12-20, version 4.21* This has all the kanji you can think of and easy to study with! But this is targeted for intermediate level Japanese learners since you need to know hiragana and katakana at least to know the translation readings. ### 5/5 — For stroke order practice, this is the best app I've found. *2018-11-23, version 4.21* And I've tried a lot of apps. Great job, guys. ### 5/5 — Tried several, this is the best *2018-11-12, version 4.21* The fact that the developer keeps updating and improving this app really tips the scale in favor of this app. I see some negative reviews. In my experience the developer responds to direct inquiries about the app, so write him rather than leave a negative review. ### 5/5 — Love this app! But can you plz add one thing? *2018-11-06, version 4.20* I’ve been using this app for N3 preparation and I have to say I love it way more than midori, anki, memrise, etc! However, the one thing I wish you had was the conjugations for verbs, I know it’s mentioned that there’s a dictionary, but if you look at how midori lays out their verbs vocab, you can see that they show all the conjugations... Would you be able to add this to your dictionary? Or to the actual flashcards somehow? ### 5/5 — The best app for drilling kanji *2018-05-24, version 4.17* Without doubt the best app for studying Japanese. Even if you have no interest in taking the JLPT, combine this app with the Kodansha Kanji book to learn all of the jōyō kanji more easily. ### 5/5 — Best vocab/kanji app on the App Store *2018-05-22, version 4.17* This app is hands down the best kanji/vocabulary app on the App Store. Has more features than a Swiss Army knife. One thing I wish tho is if it had (maybe as an add on IAP) more example sentences using the vocabulary words and kanji, that way you could learn grammar too. I also wish there was the option for the English translation of the example sentences to be turned off... maybe by tap to show? Otherwise tho this app is the best... I am still discovering awesome features like the news section which takes current news headlines in Japanese and gives furigana and dictionary definitions for each word. If you only purchase one app for learning Japanese from the App Store, make it this one. Update: The developer is very active and helpful if you have any questions or need any help.... I had a problem where I accidentally deleted the JLPT Vocab N4 deck the app came with and he promptly emailed me back and told me that the “restore to original” button in settings will restore the deck back. Kudos to the developer for excellent customer service. :) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*